Apparatus and method for eliminating glare

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for eliminating glare are disclosed, wherein this method includes steps as follow. First, a first image is captured from an object when a first light source radiates light and a second light source is turned off, and a second image is captured from the object when the first light source is turned off and the second light source radiates light, wherein the first and second light sources are separate from each other. Then, a first glaring area is removed from the first image to create a first modified image, and a second glaring area is removed from the second image to create a second modified image. Then, the first and second modified images are merged to create a merged image.

1 . An apparatus for eliminating glare, the apparatus comprising:
 a first light source;   a second light source being separate from the first light source;   an image-capturing device for capturing a first image from an object when the first light source radiates light and a second light source is turned off, and for capturing a second image from the object when the first light source is turned off and the second light source radiates light;   an image-processing unit for removing a first glaring area from the first image to create a first modified image, and for removing a second glaring area from the second image to create a second modified image; and   an image-merging unit for merging the first and second modified images to create a merged image.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second images captured by the image-capturing device have a RGB format, and the image-processing unit comprises:
 an image-converting module for converting the RGB format of the first and second images into a YCbCr format of the first and second images;   an identifying module for determining the first glaring area in which any Y value is greater than a first predetermined luminance value and a chroma shift of Cb and Cr values falls within a first predetermined range, and for determining the second glaring area in which any Y value is greater than a second predetermined luminance value and a chroma shift of Cb and Cr values falls within a second predetermined range; and   a deleting module for erasing first glaring area from the first image to create a first modified image, and for erasing the second glaring area from the second image to create the second modified image.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image-capturing device has a photographic lens, and the first and second light sources are disposed at two opposing side of the photographic lens symmetrically. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image edge contrast unit for eliminating a seam that results from resulting from merging the first and second modified images from the merged image; and   an image projection device for projecting the merged image in which the seam is eliminated.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image projection device for projecting the merged image.   
     
     
         6 . A method for eliminating glare, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) capturing a first image from an object when a first light source radiates light and a second light source is turned off, and capturing a second image from the object when the first light source is turned off and the second light source radiates light, wherein the first and second light sources are separate from each other;   (b) removing a first glaring area from the first image to create a first modified image, and removing a second glaring area from the second image to create a second modified image; and   (c) merging the first and second modified images to create a merged image.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (d) eliminating a seam that results from resulting from merging the first and second modified images from the merged image; and   (e) projecting the merged image in which the seam is eliminated.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 projecting the merged image.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second images captured by the step (a) have a RGB format, and the step (b) comprises:
 converting the RGB format of the first and second images into a YCbCr format of the first and second images;   determining the first glaring area in which any Y value is greater than a first predetermined luminance value and a chroma shift of Cb and Cr values falls within a first predetermined range, and determining the second glaring area in which any Y value is greater than a second predetermined luminance value and a chroma shift of Cb and Cr values falls within a second predetermined range; and   erasing the first glaring area from the first image to create a first modified image, and erasing the second glaring area from the second image to create the second modified image.